Chain Block Built-in Cover for Grease Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chain block configurations face challenges in preventing lubricating oil scattering and lack, especially when gear ratios or configurations change, leading to decreased performance and increased maintenance needs, particularly for high-speed gears.
Innovation Solution
A chain block design featuring a built-in cover that is separate from the case body, with peripheral wall parts covering the pinion and driven gears, forming a continuous circulation shape to retain lubricating grease and prevent scattering, even when gear ratios or configurations change.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the gear unit is covered by a cover integrally formed with the gear case, then the scattering of liquid lubricating oil is suppressed and prevention of lack of lubricating oil is achieved, but when the gear ratio or gear configuration is changed, the gap between the cover and gear changes, reducing the effect of preventing lubricating oil scattering
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is divided into a fixed cover portion and a movable cover portion. The movable cover portion can adjust its position to accommodate different gear configurations and ratios, while the fixed cover portion provides stable mounting. This segmentation allows the cover to adapt to various gear arrangements while maintaining effective sealing and lubrication retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover incorporates a movable portion that can dynamically adjust its position based on the gear configuration. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the cover to maintain proper clearance and sealing effectiveness regardless of changes in gear ratio or arrangement, resolving the contradiction between fixed sealing and adaptive configuration.
2Reliability
If a gear case is produced in a new configuration every time when the gear ratio or gear configuration is changed, then the lack of lubricating oil is prevented, but it is necessary to change the facility for forming the gear case such as metal mold for die-casting, leading to increased cost
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the cover into fixed and movable portions, the gear case can maintain a standard fixed configuration while adapting to different gear ratios through the movable portion. This eliminates the need to create entirely new gear case configurations for different applications, reducing mold change requirements and manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed cover portion serves as a universal base that can accommodate multiple gear configurations through the adjustable movable portion. This multi-functionality allows a single gear case design to serve various gear ratio and configuration requirements, reducing the need for specialized molds for each application.
3Volume of moving object
If the pinion gear is located at a relatively center side of the gear case to make the gear case compact, then the gear case size is reduced, but the pinion gear is apt to lack lubricating oil, leading to a decrease in life of the chain block
Solution Approach 1:
A lubrication delivery mechanism acts as an intermediary to transport lubricating oil from the lubrication source to the pinion gear located at the center. This mediator ensures that even though the pinion gear is positioned centrally for compactness, it still receives adequate lubrication through the intermediary delivery system, preventing lubrication deficiency.
4Ease of operation
If grease is used instead of liquid lubricating oil to facilitate maintenance, then maintenance is easier, but grease is particularly apt to scatter from high-speed rotating gears including the pinion gear
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible sealing film or shell is introduced to contain the grease while allowing it to be easily replenished. This flexible barrier prevents grease from scattering during high-speed gear rotation, while still permitting maintenance operations by allowing the grease to be refilled or replaced without disassembling the entire gear unit.
Data Source
AI summary
A chain block including: a gear unit including a pinion gear, and a load gear configured to rotate integrally with a load sheave member; a case body configured to house the gear unit and to be supplied with grease being semifluid or semisolid at a working temperature as a lubricant; and a built-in cover arranged inside the case body, wherein: the built-in cover includes a first peripheral wall part configured to cover an outer peripheral side of the pinion gear, and a second peripheral wall part provided to be larger in diameter than the first peripheral wall part, the first driven gear body including a first large-diameter driven gear meshing with the pinion gear; and the built-in cover is provided in a circulation shape without a break by continuation of the first peripheral wall part and the second peripheral wall part.